Is nervus femoralis radiofrequency ablation an effective treatment for recalcitrant greater trochanteric pain syndrome? Results of a cross-sectional study - Summary - MDSpire

Is nervus femoralis radiofrequency ablation an effective treatment for recalcitrant greater trochanteric pain syndrome? Results of a cross-sectional study

  • By

  • Kristen Saad

  • Chase Young

  • Amanda N Cooper

  • Blake Dickenson

  • Richard Kendall

  • Allison Glinka Przybysz

  • Taylor Burnham

  • Zachary L McCormick

  • Aaron Conger

  • November 7, 2025

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Objective:

To describe long-term treatment outcomes of nervus femoralis radiofrequency ablation (NF-RFA) for recalcitrant greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), focusing on the primary outcome of ≥50% NPRS score reduction.

Key Findings:
  • 55.6% of patients reported ≥50% NPRS reduction from baseline (95% CI: 37.3-72.4).
  • 70.4% reported ≥2-point NPRS score reduction from baseline (95% CI: 51.5-84.2).
  • 51.9% reported PGIC scores indicating 'much improved' or 'very much improved' (95% CI: 34.0-69.3).
  • Average follow-up time was 13.1 months.
  • Approximately 25% reported ongoing pain or return of symptoms post-procedure.
Interpretation:

Over half of the patients experienced significant pain relief from NF-RFA, indicating its potential as an effective treatment for refractory GTPS, which may influence future treatment protocols.

Limitations:
  • Small sample size of 25 patients limits generalizability.
  • Retrospective nature of the study may introduce bias.
  • Follow-up duration varied among patients, potentially affecting outcome consistency.
Conclusion:

NF-RFA appears to be a promising intervention for patients with persistent GTPS, with a majority reporting substantial pain relief and improvement in quality of life, warranting further research to validate these findings.

Original Source(s)

Is nervus femoralis radiofrequency ablation an effective treatment for recalcitrant greater trochanteric pain syndrome? Results of a cross-sectional study

  • by Kristen Saad, Chase Young, Amanda N Cooper, Blake Dickenson, Richard Kendall, Allison Glinka Przybysz, Taylor Burnham, Zachary L McCormick, Aaron Conger

  • November 7, 2025

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